Best housing policy is to have government compete with private sector building “market affordable” (small) homes that are meant to break even, and so costs nothing. Not even cities propose this, though they can do it independently. Fundamentally, the home owner class likes scarcity of housing, and votes to keep it.
Best housing policy is to have government compete with private sector building “market affordable” (small) homes that are meant to break even, and so costs nothing.
Maybe even at a loss.
Not even cities propose this, though they can do it independently.
Cities can’t levy taxes so they are least able to do it - and they tend to have a lot of responsibilities. The feds and provinces can raise money through taxes, so they are the most logical actor to take it on.
Best housing policy is to have government compete with private sector building “market affordable” (small) homes that are meant to break even, and so costs nothing. Not even cities propose this, though they can do it independently. Fundamentally, the home owner class likes scarcity of housing, and votes to keep it.
Maybe even at a loss.
Cities can’t levy taxes so they are least able to do it - and they tend to have a lot of responsibilities. The feds and provinces can raise money through taxes, so they are the most logical actor to take it on.
It doesn’t cost anything if they break even, or why not small profit. Cities can have debt.
And given the cost of housing at the moment, breaking even probably isn’t enough to lower housing costs.